A video posted on Twitter shows a crowd of about 200 people sitting on the ground in front of the vehicle in Peckham, while another video shows members of the audience standing and shouting “let him go”. Metropolitan Police officers were called to Evan Cook Close, near Queens Road Railway Station, shortly after 1:30 p.m. “In a report by protesters who were obstructing the immigration officers” and said that the police remained at the spot shortly before 5 in the afternoon. A spokesman for the force said: “Officers were present and found that a van was being prevented from leaving the site. “A man was arrested for immigration offenses.” The Met later said the man was arrested by immigration police and has since been released on bail. Police are arresting activists trying to prevent an immigration truck from carrying a detainee. Photo: Guy Smallman / Getty Images Eleanor Janega, 39, from south-east London, told the PA news agency: “We were notified that there was an ongoing immigration raid, so locals came down to stop it. “We were sitting here blocking the van and eating lollipops. “They brought more police and tried to break into the crowd by pushing us. We all sat down. “ Reginald Popula, a local Labor councilor, said people “circulated the van peacefully” but that some people were pushed during the protest. Popoola added: “He is being released, the peaceful protest is strong.” Claudia Webbe, an independent Leicester East MP, praised the “humanity and solidarity” of the protesters on Twitter: “This is the power of people – so beautiful to see.” Lewisham Anti-Raids wrote on Twitter: “After 4 hours of resistance and a crowd of 200 people, they let our neighbor go! Popular power wins. We shout “do not return to Peckham!”
